Professional indemnity insurance is mandatory for architects practising in six states and territories: New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. Each state and territory sets its own rule through its architect's board or legislation, and five set a $1 million minimum.
Queensland's code requires architects to take all reasonable steps to maintain cover. The ACT requires architects to give each client evidence of the cover they hold.
Professional indemnity insurance is designed to cover claims that your advice, service or work caused a client financial loss. Cover depends on the policy and insurer you choose. Check the policy wording and its terms and conditions for what is and isn't included.
Where is professional indemnity insurance mandatory for architects?
| State or territory |
Is cover mandatory? |
Dollar minimum |
| NSW |
Yes. Cover must be appropriate for the architectural services you provide (NSW Architects Registration Board) |
None set |
| Victoria |
Yes, for practising architects, including employees. Cover must meet the Architects Insurance Ministerial Order (January 2020) (Architects Registration Board of Victoria) |
$1 million for each claim, or $1.2 million where the limit of indemnity includes defence costs |
| Queensland |
The code requires architects to take all reasonable steps to maintain cover appropriate for their services (Board of Architects of Queensland Code of Practice 2019) |
None set |
| Western Australia |
Yes, through your own policy or an employer's policy (Architects Board of Western Australia) |
$1,000,000 (Regulation 17, Architects Regulations 2005) |
| South Australia |
Yes, to the extent the board approves, unless it grants an exemption (Architectural Practice Act 2009, s 59) |
$1 million for any one claim and in the aggregate, not including defence costs (Guidance Note 1) |
| Tasmania |
Yes, a sufficient level while practising (Board of Architects of Tasmania) |
$1 million |
| Northern Territory |
Yes, for architects providing architectural services (Northern Territory Architects Board) |
$1,000,000 |
| ACT |
Not required. Architects must give each client evidence of the cover they hold before providing a service (Architects Act 2004, s 89) |
None |
Swipe left or right to see the full table.
Note: Rules checked in September 2026. Some minimums sit in regulations, orders or board guidance that can change, so confirm the current figure with your board.
Do employed architects need their own professional indemnity policy?
An employer's policy may cover an employed architect, but some boards set conditions on that.
- NSW: an employee is not required to hold their own policy where their employer has been engaged to provide the architectural services. Occasional work on your own behalf needs its own cover (NSW board factsheet).
- Victoria: the rule applies to employees too, and the board says each architect is responsible for having compliant cover.
- Western Australia: private jobs outside your employment generally need your own cover. A subcontractor must be covered, either through the contracting architect's policy or their own (WA board).
Sources:
- https://www.architects.nsw.gov.au/download/FACTSHEET_-_PROFESSIONAL_INDEMNITY_INSURANCE.pdf
- https://www.arbv.vic.gov.au/arbv-professional-indemnity-insurance
- https://architectsboard.org.au/for-architects/
Which architects are exempt from the professional indemnity requirement?
Non-practising architects are generally exempt, and some boards grant exemptions on set grounds.
- Non-practising: NSW, Victoria and Western Australia exempt non-practising architects. South Australia asks them to apply for an exemption.
- NSW: a practising architect can lodge a PI Insurance Exemption or Exclusion Agreement for the current year. Grounds include providing architectural services only outside NSW, or only to yourself or your immediate family. Parental leave and ill health are also grounds (NSW board factsheet).
- Northern Territory: the board lists Commonwealth, state and Territory government employees and architects not practising in Australia as exempt. It can also grant exemptions.
What happens if an architect's professional indemnity insurance lapses?
A lapse can affect your registration.
- NSW: an architect who fails to meet the professional indemnity requirements may be removed from the Register (NSW board factsheet).
- Northern Territory: architects must contact the board within 14 days if their cover ends.
- Tasmania: architects must tell the board of any significant change in their professional indemnity insurance within 7 days.
Do architects need run-off cover when they stop practising?
Tasmania requires an architect who decides to cease practice in Australia to take out appropriate run-off cover. The board says the cover is for matters that would otherwise be uncovered arising from previous practice as a registered architect. Western Australia advises non-practising architects to ask insurers whether they need run-off for obligations from previous projects.
Run-off cover keeps the window open for past work after you retire, stop operating, sell your business or exit your industry and go back to employed work. It is usually arranged for a set number of years. The period varies between insurers.
Importantly, it can only be arranged from your existing insurer with your current insurance policy. Architects commonly discuss it with an insurance broker before a policy is cancelled and before they exit the industry or business, rather than after.
What do professional indemnity policies for architects commonly exclude?
Exclusions commonly include, but are not limited to:
- Claims and circumstances you knew about before the policy started
- Services not listed on your policy schedule
- Services provided before the retroactive date, the earliest date of past services the policy may respond to
- Liability you take on under a contract that would not otherwise exist under the law
- Dishonest, fraudulent or criminal acts by you. Dishonesty by an employee may sit under the crime or fidelity section of a management liability policy, designed to cover losses from employee dishonesty, where you arrange one
- Refunds, or the cost of redoing, correcting or improving your own work
- Claims brought in courts in the United States or Canada
- Fines and penalties that cannot be insured at law
- Injury or property damage from an accident connected with your business, which generally sits with public liability
- Cyber incidents and data breaches, which generally sit with cyber insurance
Important: This list is not exhaustive. Exclusions vary between insurers. Always refer to the policy wording and its terms and conditions for the exclusions that apply to you, and if you have questions you should speak to your insurance broker or the upcover team.
How upcover can help
upcover arranges professional indemnity insurance for architects. upcover works with 80+ insurance partners and can arrange quotes from a range of insurers.
- 70,000+ businesses covered across Australia
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Get a quote for your architectural practice, or read our guide to choosing professional indemnity insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum professional indemnity cover for architects?
Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory set a $1 million minimum, and NSW, Queensland and the ACT set none. Victoria asks for $1.2 million where the limit of indemnity includes defence costs, and South Australia's $1 million must not include them. Our guide to what insurance an architect needs explains how limits are set.
Do architects need professional indemnity insurance for pro bono work?
The board rules we checked are framed around the architectural services you provide, not whether you are paid. In NSW, providing services only to yourself or your immediate family is a ground for exemption (NSW board factsheet).
Do architects need extra cover when working interstate?
If you practise in another state under automatic mutual recognition, that state's laws apply, including any insurance requirement. The Victorian board says you must hold the required insurance when you notify it.
Do sole practitioners need their own professional indemnity policy?
In the six jurisdictions that mandate cover, a practising sole practitioner must be covered by professional indemnity insurance, unless their board grants an exemption. This is usually a policy in their own name.
Written by upcover's editorial team.
This article provides general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not legal advice. Registration and professional indemnity requirements for architects are set by state and territory boards and legislation, differ between jurisdictions and can change, so confirm what applies with your own board. Insurance availability and cover are subject to underwriting and the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions of the relevant policy. Read the policy wording and its terms and conditions before deciding. upcover arranges insurance products with selected insurers and underwriters and does not compare all general insurers or insurance products available in the market.
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